2 Arrested For Robberies Targeting Asian Business Owners

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The FBI says its made two arrests in a series of home invasions that have targeted Asian business owners in recent weeks.

Court documents indicate Tyree Mansell and Terrance Downing were arrested Friday in Philadelphia without incident. The suspects, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by federal prosecutors, targeted the owners because they “believed that Asian business owners kept a lot of cash from the business in their home instead of securing it in a bank.”

For now, the two suspects are only charged with one home invasion in Havertown, Delaware County, on August 8th. But sources indicate additional charges are expected involving similar crimes in Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties.

At least two other suspects, according to court documents, are also under investigation.

The string of robberies prompted local and federal officials to issue alerts to Asian merchants and a seminar was held at Delaware County Community College last summer to provide information and advice on protecting their homes and commercial properties.